This year at the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. Midwestern Region Xinos/Kudos conference, a member presented a piece entitled ‘Cuz He’s Black performed by Javon Johnson as part of the monologue competition.
This piece details a conversation between a young adult uncle and his younger nephew. In the piece, the nephew hides from the police as they drive past his uncle. As a result, the uncle becomes upset, telling his nephew that his family does not hide from the police. He details how he feels his nephew is entering into a war that he can’t help prepare him for. He remembers Emmett Till, Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin and Diallo. He states in his neighborhood cop cars feel like low-flying planes in New York.
Watching this young man perform, brought tears to my eyes and sent chills down my spine. I am the aunt of seven boys, the godmother of two boys, the sister of three men, the god sister of three young men and the friend of countless men. While not all of these relationship are with Black men, many of them are.
And I’m frightened. I’m terrified. I’m scared out of my mind.
I live in a society where Black men are killed for simply walking down the street wearing hoods, or playing their music “too” loud, or jay-walking, or selling cigarettes illegally.
Like Johnson who wrote: ‘Cuz He’s Black, my Black brothers are in a war I can’t help prepare them for. Even my god brothers and brother who have spent time in the Armed Forces aren’t fully prepared for this war.
Then I realize, they are not the only ones. I, too, am in a war they can not help prepare me for. I vividly remember Reneesha McBride. At this point, I am numb to verdicts. I know it will be unlikely whoever has murdered my Black brothers and sisters will find themselves as a defendant against the people of the city.
South Carolina, once a member of the Confederate States of America, has slowly began to change my opinion. Tuesday, Patrolman Michael Slager was charged with murder in the death of Walter Scott. The decision came after a cell phone video recording was provided showing Patrolman Slager had shot Scott eight times in the back disputing his claims. I won’t speculate what the verdict will be since it is not my place.
Still, as part of my preparation for war with the police, I will ensure my cell phone camera is working. I will ensure I know the laws of the state, since I heard unverified rumors one U.S. state had passed a law making it illegal to record the police.
Because if I was taught anything from recent history, it is eyewitness accounts don’t matter. But South Carolina taught me video and audio recording does matter.
In fact, it has been reported by the Guardian that Slager was recorded by a phone call to his iPhone and the dash cam. The conversation between Slager and a senior officer recorded Slager laughing about the adrenaline rush. It recorded his senior officer instructing him to write his thoughts about the incident down after the adrenaline rush was over.
I, like many Americans, am still watching South Carolina carefully.
I’m waiting to see how much these video and audio recordings will matter. And they should because #blacklivesmatter.
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